Overview of Material Processing and Related Concepts

75 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture on material processing, degradation, and recycling.

Material

Anything made of matter, consisting of one or more substances, used as input for production.

Matter

Anything that has weight and occupies space; exists as solid, liquid, gas, or combinations.

Material Processing

Series of operations transforming raw industrial materials into finished parts or products.

Industrial Materials

Materials used to manufacture durable goods, contrasted with disposable soft goods.

Input (Processing)

Acquisition of raw materials that will be transformed during processing.

Process (Processing Cycle)

Interrelated tasks converting inputs into outputs using people, machines, or nature.

Output (Processing Cycle)

The finished product obtained after processing raw materials.

Beneficiation

Initial processing step that concentrates desired metal from crude ore via crushing, roasting, etc.

Smelting

High-temperature chemical process that extracts or refines metals from ores.

Alloying

Combining two or more elements, at least one metal, to obtain desired properties.

Forming and Shaping

Processes that give input material a desired geometry, e.g., casting, rolling, bending.

Material Alteration

Processes that change material properties after shaping, such as heat treatment or trimming.

Engineering Process

Set of interrelated tasks transforming inputs to outputs, considered with agents and resources.

Measurement (Engineering)

Determination of dimensions, mass, or other quantities essential to design and production.

Engineering Drawing

Technical drawing that fully and clearly defines requirements for engineered items.

Casting

Shaping a liquid material by pouring into a mould and letting it solidify.

Machining

Mechanical cutting and shaping that removes material to achieve desired form.

Hydroforming

Expanding a metal tube into a mould under fluid pressure; dental analogue: swaging.

Sandblasting

Cleaning or texturing a surface by propelled abrasive particles; removes oxides on castings.

Soldering

Joining metals using a filler melted below base-metal melting temperatures.

Welding

Fusion joining of metals or thermoplastics, usually with heat and/or pressure.

Polishing

Mechanical smoothing of a surface to produce high gloss and reduce roughness.

Precipitation Hardening

Heat treatment strengthening malleable alloys by forming fine precipitates.

Work Hardening

Strengthening metals by plastic deformation at room temperature (cold working).

Case Hardening

Creating a wear-resistant surface layer while retaining a tough core.

Differential Hardening

Selective hardening of specific areas to achieve varied properties within one piece.

Electrolysis

Decomposition of a substance by electric current producing ions and chemical change.

Electroplating

Depositing a metal coating onto an electrode via electrolytic process.

Anodization

Electrolytic thickening of aluminum's oxide layer for protection or color.

Electrodeposition

General term for plating metals onto a substrate through electrolysis.

Electropolishing

Electrolytic removal of surface material to smooth and brighten a workpiece.

Electrofocusing

Electrolytic separation of molecules, similar principle to plating but for analysis.

Metallizing

Applying a metallic coating to non-metal surfaces, often by vapor or plating.

Spin Coating

Depositing a thin uniform coating by spinning the substrate at high speed.

Amalgamation

Chemical reaction of mercury with alloy powder forming dental amalgam compound.

Disinfection

Chemical treatment aimed at killing bacteria and viruses on materials or surfaces.

Pyroprocessing

Use of heat to chemically combine materials, e.g., firing porcelain or curing acrylic.

Waxing Up

Shaping wax to full-contour form prior to investing or processing a denture.

Moulding

Physical shaping of materials from liquid to solid using a mould.

Investment Casting

Casting method using a refractory investment mould, common for metal frameworks.

Sintering

Forming solid objects from powder by heating below melting point (powder metallurgy).

Compression Molding

Forming process where material is shaped in a closed, heated mould under pressure.

Finishing Processes

Surface modifications to protect, improve properties, or add decorative effects.

Liquefaction

Turning a material into liquid, often for easier transport or mould filling.

Supercritical Drying

Removing liquid by crossing critical point to avoid surface tension damage.

Freeze Drying

Drying technique that removes water by sublimation under vacuum at low temperature.

Mechanical Alteration

Material removal using machines and cutting tools, e.g., trimming dentures.

Chemical Milling

Etching away metal in controlled manner using chemical solutions.

Electrochemical Machining

Removal of metal via anodic dissolution, reverse of electroplating.

Electrodischarge Machining

Erosion of metal using high-energy electrical sparks.

Laser Machining

Cutting or drilling materials with an intense, focused laser beam.

Joining

Permanent or temporary bonding of materials through welding, brazing, soldering, or adhesives.

Thermal Treatment

Raising or lowering temperature to alter material properties; includes heat treatment.

Heat Treatment

Controlled heating and cooling cycle to change microstructure and properties of materials.

Cold Treatment

Exposure below room temperature to modify material properties, e.g., cryogenic processing.

Degradation

Gradual deterioration of material due to environmental or internal interactions.

Corrosion

Irreversible reaction of a material with its environment leading to consumption or dissolution.

Uniform Corrosion

Even surface attack over large areas, producing rust uniformly.

Galvanic Corrosion

Corrosion occurring between dissimilar metals in electrical contact within an electrolyte.

Crevice Corrosion

Localized attack in shielded areas of same metal where stagnate solution exists.

Pitting Corrosion

Formation of small, deep pits due to low oxygen concentration spots.

Intragranular Corrosion

Attack along grain boundaries, often after improper heat treatment.

Erosion Corrosion

Removal of protective film by high-velocity fluid, accelerating corrosion.

Selective Leaching

Preferential removal of one element from an alloy, e.g., dezincification of brass.

Stress Corrosion Cracking

Combined action of tensile stress and corrosive environment leading to cracks.

Hydrogen Embrittlement

Loss of ductility and cracking due to absorbed hydrogen within the metal.

Sacrificial Protection

Intentional use of a more active metal (anode) to protect another metal (cathode).

Anodising (Aluminum)

Electrolytic thickening of oxide layer on aluminum for hardness and coloration.

Protective Coating

Paint, plastic, or metal layer applied to shield substrate from environment.

Recycling

Recovery and reprocessing of waste into new products, conserving resources and energy.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Hierarchy

Waste-management model prioritizing reduction, then reuse, then recycling.

Financial Benefit of Recycling

Economic gain from selling recyclables and lowering waste-management costs.

Energy Savings (Recycling)

Lower energy demand when recycled materials replace virgin raw materials.

Conservation of Resources

Preserving natural resources by substituting recycled materials for fresh extraction.